Hey guys (I'm new here so forgive me for any mistakes in the rules),
I've been chasing this girl for around 3 years now. I told her that I liked her pretty soon, and she told me that she felt that way too. I learned later that she actually only said this because she was confused and didn't know what to do (we've never been in a relationship before). So after a year or so, we got to know each other a lot better and I decided to ask her out again. She said yes this time genuinely, and we've had a good streak from then to 6 months later, when I broke up with her after I felt she started being cold to me and started saying things behind my back. After that, there was a period of around 4 months where we didn't speak at all. After that we went on a school trip together, and started talking and acting like before. She told me that she felt like she liked me again. We've been on good terms since then (not in a relationship), but we both knew our feelings for each other, that there was something more. Recently she asked me how I felt if we were to just "remain friends". She then poured out all her feelings and said that she can see me as a brother or romantically, but she felt uncomfortable when seeing my romantically. She said that she feels comfortable around me while treating me like a brother, but at the same time she still "likes me" in "that way". This isn't the first time it's happened, so I acted a bit mad at her, which may have scared her a bit. Later on in the night she told me that she loved me in a variety of ways, and the next day she reinforced that she did see me romantically, and would get jealous if I showed interest toward any other girl.
The thing is that this up and down path has been going on for some time, and she always felt regret after we fought. She comes back to me after a fight or disagreement acting all sweet and happy again, and I can't resist talking to her and becoming her friend again. The truth is that I want to escape from this "relationship", but every time I try I get sucked right back into it.
Overall, she says repeatedly that she likes/loves me, but treats me just like a friend, with the occasional hug and kiss. I don't know what to do. I could keep trying for her and perhaps hope for us both to mature and progress, of I could try and leave her entirely.